Monday, February 7, 2011

Warm

(Will's Hands. Photo credit: The Man)




I am warm.

I have been warm before, but now I truly appreciate my warm-ness. Our furnace got very funky last week, and for the last few days, we have had to do a hoodoo voodoo dance to get it to run, and sometimes the dance didn't work.

Lucky things: That temperatures during the day have been hovering in the 50s. That our fire place and portable heater have provided sufficient heat in small areas. That a cool house at night isn't such a big deal, body heat being what it is. That Will runs around so much he usually has an excess of heat. That Jack had a sleepover this weekend and a day-long science fair, so he didn't have to suffer too much.

Today the furnace guys came and brought us a new furnace. The new furnace cost less than the parts to fix the old furnace would have cost. Go figure.

Being warm reminds me of something I've been meaning to tell you. If you live in a place where it gets cold, go get yourself some silk long johns. I ordered mine through Campmor; they cost about forty bucks, and they add very little bulk, so you can wear them and still snap your jeans. They have made me about as happy as a pair of long underwear can, and I wear them all the time. It's my little secret of warmth!

I also wanted to tell you that last night I started reading a book called The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. I had never heard of Elizabeth Goudge until somebody mentioned her on their blog--was it you, Pom Pom? This book is magic. It was published in 1963, takes place in post-WWII England, and concerns a middle-aged woman who inherits a house in the countryside. I am completely enthralled.

So I am warm, and I have a good book, and my children are home, and dinner is leftovers from last night. That's all my news for today, but it's good news indeed.

8 comments:

magsmcc said...

Happy. I am happy! To read you.

Leslie said...

Oh goodness, I would *love* to see that dance. =) I have several EGoudge books but have never read them. I need to, don't I? And I love the pictures of your son. Your husband has a good eye. Glad you are warm. ~Leslie

debbie bailey said...

I adore anything by Elizabeth Goudge. Have you read The Dean's Watch? You'd love it!

Pom Pom said...

Hello sweet Frances! I got a postcard today! LOVE IT! It cheered me! It was Jody at Gumbo Lily who shared about EG. I must trot over to Amazon and order a few books right now. I'm glad you are warm. It is blowing and snowing outside tonight. Dare I wish for another snow day? I DO have a lot to do, catch up stuff and what not . . .
The Man is a snazzy picture taker!

Tracy said...

It is a wonderful thing to be warm, especially when it is so cold outside. Our heater has regular bouts of going 'on the blink' through the winter. The last time we had to call the plumber out he said he had no time and told Dh what to do. Saves us hundreds every winter.

Miss Sunshine received her package from you today. She is beaming. And very excited about reading 'The Kind of Friends We Used to Be'. Did I mention she is beaming? Thank you for your generosity and the warmth you spread her way. She just thinks you are the most magnificent person ever.

Interestingly AQIS inspected the parcel. It passed quarantine, of course. Perhaps they heard the story of the missing poop unable to be scooped or something?!!! Really, how can a book raise quarantine suspicions?

Sandy H said...

I'm wearing my silk long underwear even as I read your blog. It's in the single digits outside, and that's not counting the wind chill from the gusts up to 25 mph. I *finally* broke down and put on my long johns. :-) (And a hoodie, and have two space heaters running in my office since it sits right over the garage. Brrr.) Nice photo--"the man" has a great eye for photography!

Gumbo Lily said...

Warmth. I'm so glad you have you some. Those long johns sound nice. I've been cold, cold, cold, but it is supposed to warm up starting tomorrow!

Glad to hear you are liking Elizabeth Goudge. I really loved Scent of Water. I'm almost done with Pilgrim's Inn.

Since you are a children's book author, I wonder if you've read Linnets and Valerians by EG? I read it aloud to my kids. We all liked it!

Jody

Angela said...

Important question - silk underwear and the laundry issue - how easy is it to launder these items? The only silk things I ever possessed [admittedly rather brief and delicate panties] required gently handwashing and careful drying.
I can't be doing with all that these days - i am a "sling 'em in the machine" sorta gal
will these be campmor ones be any use to me - are they made of sterner stuff?